NHTSA Complaint #10107840 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

FATALITY VEHICLE FIRE, DEC. 8 2004. MY HUSBAND IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2000 FORD FOCUS, SUBJECT TO NUMEROUS SERVICE VISITS TO BILL BROWN FORD, LIVONIA MI FOR: IGNITION, STEERING COLUMN, WHEEL BEARING, BRAKE, REAR WINDOW CONTROL, SEAT BELT &TRUNK LATCHES, OVERHEAD LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT. THE VACUUM LINE & FUEL PUMP & VALVE ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED 2/03, FOLLOWED BY STALLING. IN 6/03, A/C COMPRESSOR & MANIFOLD LINE REPLACED. FUEL LINE & PUMP FAILURE IN 8/03, RESULTED IN GASOLINE SPILL ON RESIDENTIAL STREET MINUTES AFTER PARKING. BOGGING FOLLOWED REPAIRS, PCM REPROGRAMMED & LEAKING PVC TUBE REPLACED 1/04. FUEL PUMP AGAIN REPLACED. IN 8/04, OUR 24 YEAR OLD SON TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEMATIC CAR. WE ARE UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER VEHICLE MALFUNCTION CAUSED A 35 MPH COLLISION WITH A FIRE HYDRANT. AN IMMEDIATE ENGINE EXPLOSION AND FUEL FED FIRE TRAPPED MY SON AND HIS PASSENGER. DESCRIBED BY POLICE AS A RELATIVELY MINOR CRASH WHICH WOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO CLAIM LIVES, THE SUBSEQUENT UNEXPLAINED ENGINE FIRE CLAIMED TWO YOUNG LIVES. A MALFUNCTIONING DRIVER'S AIRBAG WAS ALSO DETECTED. THIS INCIDENT WAS ORIGINALLY REPORTED TO NHTSA BY MY HUSBAND (#10104088). I AM SUPPLYING THESE ADDITIONAL FACTS FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION. PLEASE CORRECT YOUR POSTING OF "0" INJURIES AS THERE WERE 2 FATALITIES. PLEASE TAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION TO SAVE LIVES, AS THESE TROUBLE PLAGUED VEHICLES SEEM TO BECOME MORE LETHAL AS THEY AGE. CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT OF THIS INFORMATION IS REQUESTED. *NM *SC *JB